Welcome to the page where I have listed companies providing traditional textbooks (and more).

Please note that companies providing "multiple-subject" items including textbooks are listed on the Multi-subject page.

The companies listed below may sell other items, but their MAIN focus is specifically traditional textbooks (meaning the type of texts a public school would use).

A note about traditional textbooks: Yes, they can be a pain for homeschoolers to use because:

1. They can be very expensive
2. They have instructions, manuals and supplemental items intended for a classroom environment (and often are NOT homeschool teacher friendly)
3. They are more likely to conflict with the religious beliefs of many homeschoolers (especially the sciences!)...

I'm sure you can come up with plenty of other reasons! I do not, generally, like textbooks (I'll be writing an article about this at some point).

That being said though, we have had some good, if not excellent, recent experiences with traditional textbooks.

Our daughter tried learning German with several homeschool marketed programs and was finding it just didn't stick. When we tried out Holt's German program (Komm Mit!) she exceeded our expectations and did very well. Not only that, but for the first time, she liked German. She even became excited about it and eager to start her second year of study!

Komm MIT has excellent support materials: worksheets, workbooks, videos, audio, a reader and more -far more support materials than what is available with the most well known homeschool programs.

We also used Prentice Halls interactive textbook for a Biology supplement and again, it just gelled with our daughter better than the homeschool Biology program we were using.

So, while many homeschoolers tend to "look down" on traditional textbooks, I think that for some children, they certainly have their place. You might be surprised at some of the excellent quality materials that go with many of the textbooks themselves. It is worth, at any rate, keeping in mind, especially if you are finding the main homeschool market materials aren't working.

Have fun browsing!

Please contact us if you'd like a company name to be listed!

We will add items we as we come across them, if they meet our requirements!

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Icon explanation:
Connecting Waters families may order from this company

This is a personal favorite or a company we order from frequently

An openly Christian company or a company offering a large number of Christian items

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All charter schools serving Los Banos are welcome to submit a list of the providers/vendors that are approved for your school. Currently we are marking Connecting Water's vendors as a convenience to CW students living in Los Banos.

Please note that all companies listed below are NOT just for families living in CA but applicable to all in the homeschooling community. (International homeschoolers will have to contact each company for their policies on international shipping.)

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Quotes are taken from each company's website.

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Follet Educational Services If you are looking for public school textbooks and workbooks, Follet offers a huge selection of used books for CHEAP. Main product: textbooks

Glencoe A major textbook publisher. The books and materials are designed for public schools, but we have found some of their texts useful. Main products: textbooks

Harcortt A well known public school textbook provider. Main product: Textbooks

Holt, Rinehart and Winston A public school textbook publisher. We have used their German program with much greater success than anything sold in the "homeschool" market (That's why I give it a heart icon). Main products: Textbooks

Houghton Mifflin A well known textbook publisher. Main products: textbooks

McDougal Littell A main textbook publisher. Main products: textbooks

McGraw Hill / Macmillan A main textbook publisher. Main products: textbooks

Pearson Learning A well known textbook publisher. We like their Modern Curriculum Press phonics workbooks. Main products: Textbooks

Prentice Hall A well known textbook publisher. We have used some of their interactive textbooks on CD ROM with great success to meet some specific state requirements. Main products: Textbooks

Steck-Vaughn Co. A well known public school textbook/workbook publisher. Also part of the company producing Saxon materials. Main products: Textbooks

Our Los Banos .com is glad to bring you this page.